Miles to Marathons is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization that supports Glioblastoma Brain Cancer Research and raises awareness through merchandise sales and endurance running. In 2016, Madeline and Natasha Beitz lost their mother, Monica, to a stage 4 Glioblastoma brain tumor. Being only 11 and 16 years old, this changed their lives drastically as they were two young girls trying to navigate growing up without a mother. 

To cope with the stress and pressures of high school as well as the grief and loss they each felt after losing their mom, Natasha joined her high school cross country team and decided to start long-distance running. On the first day of practice, she was unable to run a mile without stopping, but the assistant coach of the team at the time, Shari Costanzo, stuck by her side and told her that she could do hard things and that she is strong. For the first time in Natasha’s life, she ran a mile without stopping and believed in herself.

From that day on Natasha was hooked. Running became an outlet and a place for her to escape from anxiety and depression. Every race quickly became an exciting event because her times were getting exponentially faster. Natasha ran her first half marathon in 2020 with a close friend and found the feeling of running 13.1 miles without stopping exhilarating. As Natasha crossed the finish line for the first time, she realized that her limits are only as far as she allows them to be and that she can do anything she puts her mind to. 

Shortly after the half marathon, Natasha contemplated running a full marathon but was unsure if she was capable of running 26.2 miles (which is the ultimate achievement of a long-distance runner). As the covid pandemic hit, Natasha dedicated all of her time to training for the Napa Valley Marathon. On March 6th, 2021, Natasha crossed the finish line of her first-ever marathon, as a fundraiser for the National Brain Tumor Society in memory of her mother.  Her sister, Madeline Beitz, and cross country coaches had biked the full distance of the marathon her my side. 

As Natasha crossed the marathon finish line, she collapsed to the ground and her eyes filled with tears because she had just completed an entire mental and physical battle that was dedicated to her mother. This marked the completion of something she had never dreamed of being possible for the first time she truly believed that she could do anything she put her mind to. 

Natasha: “Running gives me a place to escape, but running also shaped me to be the person I am today, find my purpose, and made me truly understand the value of hard work and what it means to persevere and be strong even when it is incredibly difficult, just like my mom did as she fought until her very last breath. Every mile I run is dedicated to my mom and fighting the disease that claimed her life. By making a donation or ordering a sweatshirt, you are supporting brain cancer research to help find a cure for this disease.”

Through the inspiration of Natasha’s love for running, the name Miles to Marathons became the name of our Non-Profit because of the emphasis and purpose it has had on both sisters’ lives.